New Yorker, Condé Nast unions condemn killing of Gaza journalists

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Oct 2024 16:29
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The unions highlighted the dangers of criminalizing journalism, stressing the need for freedom, safety, and access for reporters, both in the US and Gaza, to work without fear of retaliation.

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Screengrab of a joint statement issued by Condé Nast and the New Yorker unions. (Social media)

The unions of The New Yorker and Condé Nast have denounced the killing of journalists reporting on the Israeli siege on Gaza, as well as attacks in the West Bank and Lebanon, while also condemning the "harassment" of anti-Zionist workers in the United States.

"The criminalization of journalism makes it harder and more dangerous for us to do our jobs, and imperils democracy by creating a chilling effect on reporting on protest movements," the unions said in a statement.

"As union members, we derive our safety as individuals, our power as journalists, and our vitality as a labor union from our solidarity with our colleagues here and around the world, and from our commitment to a robust, free, protected press."

The statement stressed the crucial need for freedom, safety, and access for journalists, both those covering protests in the US and those reporting from Gaza, to work without fear of retaliation or threats.

"Journalists are protected civilians in armed conflicts," it said, adding that the Israeli aggression on Gaza has become "the deadliest period for media workers since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking this data more than 30 years ago."

"According to the CPJ, at least 116 media workers have been killed by the Israeli military over the last 10 months; officials in Gaza report that number to be even higher, saying 174 Palestinian journalists have been killed. At least five Lebanese journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks," the statement read.

The statement also highlighted a significant rise in the targeting of media professionals, noting that the Israeli regime has detained "an unprecedented number of Palestinian journalists this year."

In New York City, "police have made 22 arrests and committed 17 assaults on members of the press covering such protests since October 7, per the US Press Freedom Tracker," the statement notes.

The statement concluded by urging New York City officials to "immediately cease the harassment and arrest of journalists covering pro-Palestine actions."

The leadership of the Condé Nast and New Yorker unions, along with the undersigned members, condemn the killing of journalists reporting on Israel’s siege of Gaza. Please read our statement in full here. pic.twitter.com/GKx2W6mEa7
— condeunion (@condeunion) October 4, 2024

War on journalists

Journalists reporting on the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip are faced with increased risks when they are on duty, including Israeli ground operations and airstrikes, disrupted communication lines, supply shortages, and power outages.

The latest update from the Gaza media office reports that the death toll of journalists in Gaza has risen to 173.

The most recent journalist to be martyred is Abdullah Shakshak, who worked for multiple Arab media agencies.

The Gaza media office issued a statement denouncing the occupation's targeting of Palestinian journalists, urging the international community to hold "Israel" accountable for "crimes against journalists."

The statement also called for the international community, international organizations, and media and journalism organizations to “deter the occupying Tel Aviv regime, pursue it in international courts for its ongoing crimes, and pressure it to stop the genocide and the killing and assassination of Palestinian journalists.”